A clear, plain-English comparison of IAAP's accessibility certifications — what each one proves, who it's for, and how they fit together — from a certified CPWA.
All three come from the International Association of Accessibility Professionals (IAAP). In one sentence each:
| CPACC | WAS | ADS | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Focus | Broad accessibility knowledge | Technical web accessibility | Accessible documents |
| Type | Foundational, non-technical | Technical, hands-on | Technical, hands-on |
| Questions | 100 | 75 | 75 |
| Time | 2 hours | 2 hours | 2 hours |
| Experience | ~1 year (guideline) | 3-5 years (required) | 1-2 years (required) |
| Fee (standard) | $510 | $555 | $555 |
| Part of CPWA? | Yes | Yes | No |
Fees shown are standard rates in USD; IAAP members and candidates from Emerging and Developing Economy countries pay less. All three certifications are valid for three years and renewed with education credits.
The Certified Professional in Accessibility Core Competencies is the entry point. It's conceptual rather than technical, covering disabilities and assistive technologies, universal design, and the standards and laws that govern accessibility. There's no strict experience gate, which makes it ideal for project managers, designers, content authors, policy staff, and anyone beginning an accessibility career. Read our full CPACC study guide.
The Web Accessibility Specialist proves you can build, test, and fix accessible websites in real code. It requires 3-5 years of hands-on, customer-facing technical experience, and covers WCAG 2.0/2.1/2.2, ARIA, assistive-technology testing, and remediation. It's aimed at developers, accessibility engineers, and QA specialists. Read our full WAS study guide.
The Certified Professional in Web Accessibility isn't an exam you sit. When you hold both CPACC and WAS at the same time, IAAP awards you the CPWA — its highest professional credential, signalling both broad knowledge and deep technical skill. Most people earn CPACC first, then WAS once they have the technical experience.
The Accessible Document Specialist (ADS) is a separate technical certification for people who make PDFs, Word files, and presentations accessible. It is not part of the CPWA, but it pairs well with CPACC and WAS for professionals whose work includes document remediation.